The Implications of Social Reformation

on Families and Child Welfare of the Common Era

Unique N. Dixon

Andrew Young School of Policy, Georgia State University

SW 3200: Social Welfare

Prof. Schulte

December 3, 2023
 As of today, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) reported 582,000

Americans experiencing homelessness, which is about 18 people that experience homelessness per 10,000

people. According to the Atlanta Mission, 50,000 of those people are youths, and over 2,000 families are

experiencing homelessness. The Atlanta mission served almost 7,000 people last year (The Hidden

Homeless, n.d.). The Atlanta City Council approved a $790 million budget, but only 3.5 million is going

towards developing affordable housing, and it does not mention creating shelters for the homeless

population (Atlanta City Council, 2023). In 2019, Attomdata reported more than 67,000 abandoned and

vacant properties in Georgia, which could be used to address the issue of homelessness (Vacant Property,

2023). From October 17th to October 20th, 2023, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs

(D.C.A.) opened the waiting list for D.C.A.'s Housing Choice Voucher Program, receiving more than

175,000 applicants with only 13,000 slots available for the waiting list (Waiting list openings, 2023).

In 2022, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched the Income Mobility Program for Atlanta

Community Transformation (I.M.P.A.C.T.) (Our Impact, n.d.). The pilot currently serves 275 individuals

who live in poverty, yet 24%, one in four people, are experiencing poverty in Atlanta. In Georgia, 17.5%

of the population lives below the national poverty line (Georgia: Poverty, n.d.). Within the child welfare

system, poverty is often mistaken as neglect, and many children are removed from their families. A recent

bill, Senate Bill 113, was passed to address how children go into foster care because of the inconsistencies

in the placement of children in the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (D.F.C.S.). In

non-emergency situations, the bill requires the court to consider what services can be implemented for the

child or the guardian before removing them from the home. They must view the efforts made to secure the

child's placement before they enter D.F.C.S. custody (Senate Bill 133,2023). There are too many children

in foster care, and due to the lack of placement, they must live in unsafe conditions such as hotels or

offices.

On October 27th, 2023, Senator John Ossoff appeared in the media, sharing that between 2018

and 2022, nearly 1800 foster children were reported missing while in the care of D.F.C.S. A parent,

Rachel Alridge, lost her 2-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, after the child was misplaced with her father and
his girlfriend. Despite Rachel's pleas, the child was taken away, and a proper background check was not

conducted on the unsafe home. In many cases, the parent is misrepresented and does not have a voice to

advocate for their children. In-home services appear to be the best solution and provide more resources to

support these families to prevent being placed in D.F.C.S. custody (Winter, 2023 & Kallis, 2023)

Child fatalities increased to 885 in 2020 from 68 reported in 2019. Georgia had 650,000 children

who lived with parents who lacked secure employment, which led to many children being taken from

their homes and placed in D.F.C.S. custody. 60% of the children in foster care are living with non-related

foster parents. In 2020, Georgia had 110,227 referrals for child abuse and neglect, and 62,675 of those

cases were investigated. The largest age group of victims was under one year old (Georgia's Children

2022, 2022).

Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc (CASA) is an organization focused on

advocating for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers are supervised,

screened, and specifically trained to improve the experience of the children within foster care who have

experienced abandonment, abuse, or neglect—the volunteer advocates for the safety, well-being, and

permanent placement of the child. You do not have to have any social justice experience to become a

CASA volunteer; the qualifications are sincere care for the well-being of children, being 21 years old, and

being able to pass the background check. A CASA volunteer is very beneficial to the child's well-being.

The responsibility of a CASA volunteer is to visit the child, gather information about the situation, attend

court, make recommendations, prepare written reports, identify resources, and advocate for the child

(CASA, n.d.).

As of today, in Georgia, there are 15,838 children in foster care; 8,649 of those children have a

CASA volunteer, leaving 7,189 children without the support of a child advocate. Children without the

support of an advocate are at higher risk of experiencing abuse and neglect in their foster homes.

Advocates provide legal representation; without this support, their legal rights may be violated, leading to

unfavorable outcomes (CASA, n.d.).

protection for this vulnerable population. All children should have access to a child advocate. However,

this is a volunteer service. People are facing financial hardships and are limited in their time to volunteer.

Many people work multiple jobs or long hours to make ends meet and do not have the flexibility to meet

the demands of being a CASA volunteer.

As a woman in long-term recovery who has personally overcome mental health and substance use

challenges, I became a Certified Peer Specialists (C.P.S.). My profound experience has qualified me to

become certified by the state of Georgia to support others seeking recovery. Experiences have given me

an understanding of individuals battles when seeking recovery. Recovery ignited a deep sense of purpose

and a burning desire to support others along the path to recovery. Certified Peer Specialists provide peer

support services and serve as peer advocates in multiple settings such as treatment centers, jails, and

hospitals. We support individuals using our lived experience while directing them in their recovery and

wellness process, utilizing specific interventions necessary to support them where they are and help them

meet their recovery wellness goals.

Over 18,000 children were served by the foster care system in Georgia in 2020, while 11,000

remained in the care by the end of the year. Over 6,200 children exited the foster care system, many of

whom lack a strong support system or a stable environment (Georgia's Children 2022, 2022). They may

need help finding housing, employment, and accessing educational opportunities. When I entered

recovery, I was hopeless, but I always had a passion for supporting people. Becoming a C.P.S. gave me

something to look forward to, which led to my new approach.

A new approach I would implement is training kids exiting out of foster care to provide peer

support services to kids in foster care. Former foster care children can make a meaningful difference in

the lives of those still in foster care. These peer specialists for foster care children can offer valuable

insight and understanding based on their experience. Developing systems and processes to train these

children can instill a sense of purpose and give many something to look forward to in the future.
 A peer specialist for foster care children can become a mentor and provide emotional support by

sharing personal experiences to help them feel understood and less alone. They can support them with

schoolwork, offer transportation to appointments and activities, share ways to navigate the foster care

system, and provide valuable resources such as support services, educational opportunities, and job

training programs that may have supported them. They can provide one-on-one sessions and group

discussions to create supportive environments. A peer specialist for foster care children can advocate for

the needs and rights of children in foster care and raise awareness by participating in advocacy campaigns

or even speaking events to educate others about the challenges and needs of the children within the foster

care system. Most of all, they become a consistent presence in the life of a foster child, demonstrating

resilience, success, and a tangible possibility of building a future after the foster care system.

A peer specialist for foster care children can promote the ethical principle of self-determination

by ensuring that the child's voice is heard and respected in all matters that affect them. They can

encourage the child to express their preferences and opinions to ensure these are considered in the

decision-making process. The peer specialist for foster care children can educate and provide appropriate

information about their rights and potential consequences, allowing them to have a say in living

situations, education, healthcare, and other aspects of their lives. A peer specialist for foster care children

can ensure that the child's rights to autonomy, dependence, and self-expression are respected while

empowering them to participate actively in shaping their future (Jansson, 2019).

Peer specialists for foster care children can promote the ethical principle of social justice by

advocating for fairness and equality within a broader context of society. They can address systemic

inequalities and injustices that affect children and ensure that all children have access to equal

opportunities regardless of their background, race, ethnicity, or gender. Peer specialists for foster care

children can ensure access to essential resources, such as food, housing, healthcare, and educational

support, to meet their basic needs. (Jansson, 2019).

Social workers work directly with children in foster care, especially those who are aging out of

the system. Social workers can establish mentorship programs to guide and support their transition to
working with children and foster care. Social workers can offer opportunities to gain firsthand experience

in the field. Organizing workshops and seminars specifically designed for former foster care children to

support current foster care children can provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to work

effectively within the foster care system. Training such as trauma-informed care, communication

strategies, behavior management, and understanding the foster care system can provide the skills to

support them on their journey. Providing training on advocacy, cultural competency, emotional support,

and self-care can encourage them to be voices for positive change within the foster care system.

Establishing peer support networks where young adults who are aging out of foster care connect and

share their experiences can help build a sense of community and provide a platform for discussing their

unique challenges in foster care. They will have the support, knowledge, and skills necessary to impact

the lives of the children they will serve. Peer specialists can collaborate with other organizations,

community groups, and stakeholders to build coalitions and partnerships to promote social justice for

foster children and give them opportunities to thrive in a fair society free from discrimination and

inequality.

Collaborating with CASA can provide valuable resources, training, advocacy support, and

awareness of the needs of the children in the foster care system. CASA volunteers can provide support

through mentoring, tutoring, and simply spending time with the peer specialist to provide a positive role

model in their lives. The CASA volunteers can work with the peer specialist to raise awareness by using

social media, organizing community events, and speaking at local schools and organizations. Public

awareness can increase the number of volunteers, support, and resources for foster children.

After a conversation with an L.C.S.W., I learned there is a considerable age gap between the

CASA volunteers and the foster care children. Implementing this peer support initiative can bridge the

age gap and allow foster care children to be supported by their peers. Collaborating with CASA can

provide additional support, along with the support of social workers, to build future leaders with a

network of support, access to valuable resources, and opportunities for ongoing professional

development, ultimately contributing to their success and better-serving children in the foster care system.
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